Aspartame

For those of you following my progress with my workout regimen, I have finished Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred and as of this past Monday, have started with the P90X program. This is a 3 month, multiple DVD set. Without Jillian I could not be doing this. If you are in good health, don't have a lot of pounds to lose, and want to go above and beyond; check out this program. See side bar for ordering information under Amazon listings. Worth every penny.



Today I want to hit on a very important subject: Aspartame:

STOP EATING & DRINKING PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN ASPARTAME! This includes diet sodas and sugar-free products that have NutraSweet and Equal. Let me give you a little background: Aspartame should never have been introduced into the food market. Your body responds to it literally like a drug. The food industry knows if they keep putting it in their food, you will keep spending your hard earned dollars on their junk. Your body processes the aspartame so fast, you end up craving more.

History: Aspartame was put before the FDA for approval in 1973 for the first time and denied eight times. Researches said it was dangerous. In 1975, the FDA put together their own testing group to review earlier testing methods that continued to say it was OK for consumption, and reported they had “never seen anything as bad as the earlier testing” and called the results “manipulated”. In 1981, a new FDA commissioner was appointed and despite three out of six scientists voting against the product, it was allowed in limited dry goods. Hmm… wonder how much he was getting paid? In 1983, against the National Soft Drink Association urging the FDA to further test the product, it was approved for beverage consumption. If a product had to go through so much to get into your drink, shouldn’t you reconsider? Despite recognizing 92 different bad symptoms that result in the ingestion of aspartame, the FDA finally approved it without restrictions in 1996. (Long story short; companies and their employees were “sleeping” together and making another dollar at your health’s expense). In 2004, not surprising to say, aspartame became a $1 billion dollar industry. NutraSweet and Equal contain aspartame. High levels can increase the chance of seizures and lead to depression, schizophrenia, and memory loss. Stay away from Sweet-N-Low as well. And let’s not leave out Splenda. While Splenda does not have calories, it is made up of 2% methanol and arsenic. Wow, that’s much better.

So what’s the alternative? My best friend is raw honey. My husband and I put it in everything. Try it in your coffee, on your cereal, or in your recipes when it calls for sugar. One great thing about buying honey locally is not only are you lining the pockets of a hard working neighbor but, this will blow your mind….when you buy honey from local honey bees, the bees are making honey with the pollens in your neighborhood and that honey will help fight off allergies. Crazy how God planned all that huh? Use honey when at all possible and give up ALL chemical sweeteners. You will feel better and have more energy in just a few days. Another choice is Stevia. This is derived from a plant in Paraguay. The Japanese have been using it for years, and it is the most unrecognized sweetener in the US. This is a “natural herbal sweetener” which contains no calories, has no glycemic index (won’t alter blood sugar levels) and is safe for diabetics. This product can sometimes be found in your local health food stores. The FDA has not approved this to be put in our foods as it would shut down the $1 billion dollar industry of Aspartame. Again, nice huh? They don’t worry about your waste line just their bank accounts. That is why being healthy and fit is the most empowering thing you can do. It’s all up to you and the choices that YOU make. No one else controls your body, but you.

Leave a comment and let me know how your aspartame, Sweet-n-Low, NutraSweet free days are going. You may be chosen to receive a free gift. So get healthy and in control today.